Cannon Fire Arc-Chapter 854 - 7 Starting with Artillery Fire_2

But the specific battle plan has not yet been formulated, because no one knows the outcome of the summer campaign.

If we can successfully eliminate the Prosenian Central and Northern Army Groups, then the Kazarlian First Front Army would take advantage of the weakened enemy forces and march directly into Melania's capital, and deep into northeastern Prosen.

If the battle against the heavy Prosenian forces doesn't go well and drags on for a longer period, or even allows some enemy forces to break through to northern and central Melania, the fight would probably have to be postponed until next year.

Whichever scenario it is, we will know soon after we launch the offensive tomorrow.

Pavlov: "This is the final version of our attack plan starting tomorrow, would you like to have a look?"

Wang Zhong: "Isn't the plan already distributed to all units?"

"Yes, the specific plans have already been sent down to company and platoon levels, so it's too late to make changes now. I just wanted to show you the plan," Pavlov said.

Wang Zhong pushed away the thick plan book: "No need then, let's see the result tomorrow!"

————

The morning of July 16th, Pavlov looked at his watch and then turned his eyes towards Wang Zhong.

Wang Zhong was also looking at his watch and as he looked up he met Pavlov's gaze and nodded: "Begin."

Pavlov picked up the receiver: "This is Staff Chief Pavlov of the Front Army, Commander Davarish of the artillery, open fire."

Popov: "Although giving orders is just like old times, it's been a long time since our headquarters have heard gunfire, whether it's enemy's or ours."

Wang Zhong: "Our headquarters is getting farther and farther from the frontline, this is not necessarily a good thing."

Pavlov had just put down the phone and returned to his position when hearing Wang Zhong's words, he became alert: "What do you mean? You want to rush to the frontline in a tank again, don't you?"

Wang Zhong: "I didn't say that!"

"I'm telling you, the defense of the Rokossovsky Type is not as reliable as before, Prosen has at least three new vehicles that can penetrate the armor of Rokossovsky Type. Under these conditions, I can't agree with you going to the frontline in a tank!" Pavlov raised his voice.

Wang Zhong: "I didn't say that! Besides, we're about to deploy new engines for the Rokossovsky Type soon, which will enhance its defense, and we'll weld additional armor to the turret."

"Wait until these new tanks arrive then I'll agree to you going to the frontline personally," Pavlov said.

Vasily: "Now the Marshal has one more reason to urge the rear to enhance tank defenses."

Popov: "That's a good thing for our tank operators, isn't it?"

————

Five minutes earlier.

Fritz Klaus, Commander of the 25th Army Group under the Prosenian Southern Army Group, was inspecting the frontline bunkers with his beloved dog.

He entered the command bunker of the 54th Division under his Army Group, nodded to the saluting Division Commander: "Good morning, General."

"Good morning, Commander," the Division Commander replied respectfully, "The patrol we sent out last night captured two prisoners. They kept mocking us, saying they'll show us today!"

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Fritz looked at the Division Commander: "Really? Is that what they said?"

"Yes, but both were handed over to the Constitutional Guards so we don't know the results of further interrogations."

Fritz said to his Deputy Officer: "Run to the Constitutional Soldier Headquarters and find out what's going on."

The Deputy Officer nodded and sprinted out of the bunker.

Fritz's dog turned its head watching the direction the Deputy Officer left.

Fritz went to the observation window of the bunker, took a look outside, then patted the Lieutenant guarding the Artillery Mirror: "Come, let me have a look."

The Lieutenant immediately stepped aside: "Please, go ahead."

Fritz put his eye to the Artillery Mirror: "Let's see, the enemy side...looks very calm. Of course, they've been digging communication trenches and launch sites for so long, even if they really want to attack, we wouldn't be able to see it from here."

Division Commander of the 54th Division: "Our enemies directly in front have indeed been conducting very frequent reconnaissance activities lately, it looks like they are planning to launch an offensive."

Fritz: "High Command believes that it is one of Rokossovsky's tricks, aimed to prevent us from redeploying troops to the north."

Division Commander looked worried: "Really? If Rocossov attacks now, do we really have enough troops to withstand them?"

Fritz straightened up, returned the Artillery Mirror observation position to the watching lieutenant, and turned to look at the Division Commander: "Don't worry about things that haven't happened yet. It's true that we've had many troops withdrawn and are severely understaffed, but as long as the enemy doesn't attack, it's not a big deal.

"And we still have the sturdy, permanent fortifications!"

Fritz reached out and touched the bunker's concrete wall: "Look at this wall, solid and reliable, just the fortification itself is equivalent to an army of five hundred thousand! Five hundred thousand, understand?"

Division Commander asked: "What if Rocossov deploys an army of one million three hundred thousand to attack?"

Now, the Southern Army Group has six hundred and sixty thousand troops, plus the fortifications equivalent to five hundred thousand troops, making it equal to 1.16 million troops.

If Rocossov deploys 1.3 million troops—

"High Command believes he doesn't have that many troops left." Fritz waved his hand, "What can we do other than trust the High Command's judgment?"

At that moment, the telephone rang.

A staff officer of the 54th Division picked up the phone: "54th Division. Yes, the general is here, do you want to speak to him?"

Fritz looked at the staff officer: "Looking for me?"

The staff officer nodded: "Yes, Army Group Commander Marshal Mendel."

Fritz took the receiver: "This is Fritz Klaus, I'm in the 54th Division's command bunker."

On the other end, Marshal Mendel asked: "Fritz, we have just received a report from the constitutional soldiers that today Rocossov's Front Army may launch an attack. Have you noticed any signs of an attack at the front bunker?"

"None," Fritz replied truthfully, "but the enemy has been operating across from us for half a year, and has long established their launching positions; even if they do attack, we can only wait for the artillery preparation to find out."

Marshal Mengde: "Has the artillery preparation started?"

"No," Fritz switched to a teasing tone, "If the artillery preparation had started, you would hear it."

"Is there anything else to report?"

Fritz was about to say no when he suddenly remembered the report from the 54th Division Commander and said: "One thing, the 54th Division organized a patrol last night and captured two Ante prisoners; they both said we would know their prowess today."

"Is that so? Are those two prisoners in front of you now?"

"No, they are not, the Division Commander handed them over to the constitutional soldiers, and I sent my deputy officer to inquire about the situation."

"Understood, report immediately if there's news—"

Suddenly, Fritz heard a screeching sound in the sky.

His first reaction was to lower his body, grabbing the phone and leaning against the shelter's wall—the support of the wall makes it difficult for those leaning against it to be directly buried.

Immediately after, the ground began to shake.

The blast overpressure virtually instantaneously took Fritz's hearing away.

He shouted into the receiver, unable to hear his own voice, not even bone conduction.

After shouting a few times, Fritz realized his hearing was gone; he touched his ear and only felt blood shaken out.

Amidst the shaking, he shouted into the receiver: "Marshal, do you hear me? Ante's attack has started! The High Command's judgment is bullshit! Repeat, bullshit!"

Just then, a large chunk of concrete from the ceiling fell down, hitting Fritz on the head, knocking him unconscious.

The 54th Division Commander rushed over, shielding the Army Group Commander with his body, while picking up the receiver and shouting: "Marshal, the enemy has started attacking!"

Then he abruptly noticed that the phone's line had been pulled out at some point.

"Damn it!" the Division Commander cursed.

At that moment, the entire ceiling of the bunker collapsed.

Prosen's proudly robust defenses crumbled under Ante's artillery strike.